Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2 of the Access to Information Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded)

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 15.2, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against refusal.

There were no exempt items.

There were no formal late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors S Arif and D Collins.

To agree the minutes of the meetings held 8^th September 2020, and 13^th October 2020, as a correct record.

RESOLVED- That the minutes of the Development Plan Panel meetings held on:

a)  8^th September 2020, be approved as a correct record.

b)  13^th October 2020, be approved as a correct record.

The Head of Strategic Planning informed the Panel that as part of considerations for the wider council savings and service reviews, a number of key members of staff across strategic services had left the Council. Work would be undertaken in terms of a proposed restructure and filling essential posts. The Panel in turn thanked those members of staff for all their hard work and value to the planning process, and wished them the best.

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer that invites Members consideration on a list of proposed topic areas and possible policy approaches. The topics are brought forward in two stages, with the 3rd November session considering reducing emissions, heat networks, renewable energy generation and storage, place-making, and green infrastructure and biodiversity. On the 19th January 2021 the topics of patterns of growth, infrastructure and flood risk will be considered (the commissioning of a new Strategic Flood Risk Assessment is underway and this will inform options for flood risk moving forward). For that January meeting officers will also present a first consultation draft of the LPU as a whole.  This will align with the Regulation 18 consultation stage of plan-making as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations. 

(Report attached)

The report of the Chief Planning Officer invited Members to consider a list of proposed topic areas and possible policy approaches within the scope of the update, which has an overall focus on the Climate Emergency and Biodiversity. The topics are brought forward in two stages with today’s session considering reduced emissions, heat networks, renewable energy generation and storage, place-making and green infrastructure and biodiversity. On the 19 January 2021 patterns of growth, infrastructure and flood risk will be considered (the commissioning of a new Strategic Flood Risk Assessment is underway and will form options for food risk moving forward).

A first consultation draft of the LPU will be presented for consideration at the Panel meeting in January 2021, which will align with the “Regulation 18” consultation stage of plan-making. Members were invited to comment on the scope of the document as part of the first round of statutory consultation and the report sets out the initial version, narrative, topic areas and wider policy links.

Appendices to the submitted report set out a summary of existing policies aimed at addressing climate change as contained in the Local Plan.

The Group Manager (Policy and Plans) introduced the report, setting out the topic areas and the clear focus of the Council on the Climate Emergency and the need for policies to be reviewed in order to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030.  He also set out an initial draft direction of travel for a series of topic areas, which will assist in stimulating responses during the formal consultation, summarised as follows:

Reducing Carbon from Buildings

Initial Draft Preferred Option: Require all development to be built to a zero carbon standard.

Alternative Options:

• An incremental tiered approach,
• Prescribed improvements over and above building regulations,
• Requiring carbon off-setting of developments through renewables,
• Requiring a set proportion of energy to be derived from low carbon/renewable sources.

Sustainable Construction

Initial Draft Preferred Option: Require a high standard of sustainable construction for residential development as defined by a specific, nationally recognised accreditation process.

Alternative Options:

• A ‘do nothing’ approach,
• Require a high standard but no rating system.
• Other approaches: Embedded Carbon model

Renewable Energy Generation

Initial Draft Preferred Option: To set targets which in turn enable the allocation of suitable areas for generation.

Alternative Options:

• Identify sites without setting targets,
• To set criteria based policy for new sites and their consideration.

Heat Networks

Initial Draft Preferred Option: To retain existing policy and supplement with a District Heating SPD

Alternative Options:

• Retain the existing policy position,
• Amend existing policies to give stronger focus to heat networks in new developments.

Energy Storage

Initial Draft Preferred Option: A new policy which encourages energy storage usage in identified areas. But with no established targets.

Alternative Options:

• A new policy with targets.

Place-making

Initial Draft Preferred Option: A new strategic policy which provides stronger hooks for design, place-making and 20-minute neighbourhoods.

Alternative Option:

• Re-write existing policies to include greater  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 19^th January 2021 at 1.30 pm.

To note the date and time of the next meeting as Tuesday 19^th January 2021 at 1:30 pm.

(The meeting ended at 15:05)